A/N: As Bookworm has pointed out, it's about time to redeem this fic. It might take a few chapters to do so, but I'll try my best!

And if people are still convinced that I'm being prejudiced here, I'll give you an example of the reasoning some of you are using (it's called 'inductive reasoning', by the way): Since Hitler was bad, all Germans are bad. See what I mean? Just because in this fic there is a small group of bad Christians doesn't mean I think that all Christians are bad, alright? Phew!

HOT BLOOD

The wind whispered through the deserted streets of Konoha, lightly breathing on the couple as they made there way back to Michiko's house. Their hands were now separated and once again silence hung over them like a thick veil.

Michiko felt her eyes sting as the words replayed over and over in her head. 'Just forget all about me and screw that whore!'. She was used to being called names, but it hurt to be yelled at by the person with whom she wanted to be on equal grounds. If the three of them could just get along…

'But I wouldn't like it either if someone took my boyfriend,' she thought, quickly wiping her eyes.

"You're thinking about what Naruto said, huh?" Sasuke asked huskily, jamming his hands into his pockets.

Michiko crossed her arms and slowly nodded. "I just…don't want him to be mad at me."

"No offense, woman, but I don't think he'll ever warm up to you," Sasuke replied lightly.

She sighed and looked at the dirt ground between her feet. "You're right."

Sasuke stopped and turned to her. "You've really turned our lives upside-down. If you hadn't come here at all…"

Michiko stared at him with watering eyes. "Wh-what, so you think I should be dead?" She cried hysterically. "Why don't I just go kill myself-"

Sasuke stopped her with a glare. "I never said that," he said quietly. "So just stop with the self-pity and-"

The girl turned away from him, her body shaking. "Sasuke-san, please just go away and stop being such an asshole!"

Before she could run off, Sasuke grabbed her upper arm, his nails digging into her pale skin. He turned her around and snatched her other shoulder so that they were facing each other. Michiko whimpered quietly; they were so close together that she could feel his drumming heartbeat.

"If I were to let you get hurt," Sasuke seethed, his grip on her arms tightening. "That bastard brother of yours would do something to Naruto. I won't allow that." He let go of one of Michiko's arms but still held on to the other. "Come on, I've wasted enough time this evening already."

"We go to the left at this next corner," Michiko said, her throat dry and fear elevating in her body.

Sasuke nodded curtly and followed her directions, dragging the quiet girl down the road. Michiko let Sasuke lead her without struggle, wishing for the first time that evening for the so-called "date" to be over.

'His attitude sure has changed since that little run-in with Naruto,' she thought as they were approaching the bench by the brick wall.

"Y-you can stop right here," she said in a squeaky voice.

Sasuke glanced at her with furrowed brows. "You live on a bench?"

Michiko started to squirm as crimson tears of blood flowed down her arm from Sasuke's grip. "This is where my brother will pick me up."

Sasuke waited for a moment, shrugged, and released her so quickly that she fell on the ground. "Suit yourself."

Once he started to walk away, Michiko slowly lifted herself from the dirt and sat down on the bench, rubbing her aching arm.

"I better hide this from Naoki," she whispered, watching a drop of blood fall onto her bare leg. "I can't get Sasuke-san in trouble…"

She jumped as Sasuke's voice resonated around the area:

"Come back here tomorrow. I'll take you on another date."

It was a moment before she found her own voice. "Alright."

Sasuke smiled to himself as he continued walking. This girl…he couldn't have asked for a better choice.

'SIN would be pretty damn pissed if I broke you, Michiko. But I'm not just going to do that, oh no…I'm going to shatter you to pieces.'

Naruto finished bandaging up his wrists and looked back at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. A blonde-haired young man glared back at him, his aquamarine eyes filled with a raging fire and his mouth formed into a deep scowl.

"How could I let myself become so weak?" He asked his reflection. "What the fuck is my problem?" He raised his bound-up wrist. "Is this what I suffered years of loneliness and rejection for, to be a weak little prick just because of some fucked-up organization with primitive beliefs!"

He slammed his wrists on the counter, causing a river of blood to flow onto the tiled surface and into the white porcelain sink. Like Sasuke, his emotions had taken quite a turn-around. Realization had hit him: it was time to stop crying and begin thinking of revenge.

"To hell with SIN and that church-girl bitch. They're gonna get the ass-whooping of their lives."

An evil, almost scary smile crossed his lips before he exited the bathroom to begin preparations. The river of hot blood flowed into the drain, mixing into the water that supplied the entire village.

Once inside the apartment, Michiko hurried to her room, pulled open a dresser drawer, and wrapped an old sock around the punctures on her arms from Sasuke's nails. With that done, she took a deep, shuddering breath and slowly laid down on the stiff mattress of the bed.

"Oh god I hate blood," she choked, feeling her stomach start to churn.

She had had the same feeling after she murdered Yuko, only after that incident she was sick for three whole days. The bitter smell, the metallic taste, the deep red color…

Michiko groaned and held her hand up to her mouth, the familiar taste of stomach acid filling her mouth. She grabbed the pillow underneath her head and pressed it against her face. The only thing that she hated more than blood was vomit.

Once her breathing and her stomach had calmed down, she removed the pillow from her face and stared at the white ceiling above her. She hated it there, in an unfamiliar bedroom in an unfamiliar apartment in an unfamiliar village where the people despised her and the man she loved caused her to bleed. What she would give to go back home…

Michiko looked down at the blood soaked sock tied around her arm. "Why is God punishing me?"